The latest spell of rainfall has not only brought much-needed respite from the hot and humid conditions but has also become a cause for cheer for farmers growing paddy.

The latest spell of rainfall has not only brought much-needed respite from the hot and humid conditions but has also become a cause for cheer for farmers growing paddy in parts of Haryana.

Making the most of the rainfall that the region has been witnessing since Friday morning, farmers of Rohtak district have speeded up transplantation of saplings. They had been waiting for conducive conditions to do so for the past few weeks.

“I could sow only two acres of paddy till Thursday due to the lack of rainfall, but now I have started transplantation in the remaining 10 acres,” said Devender Singh, a farmer from Ladaut village in Rohtak district.

Though paddy sowing in Karnal and its adjoining districts of Kurukshetra, Panipat and Yamunanagar is at an advanced stage, the rains have helped ensure waterlogged fields that are crucial for the crop.

Waterlogging woes

Meanwhile, the incessant rainfall led to waterlogging in towns, disrupting traffic. Sonepat received 46 mm of rainfall since Friday morning, followed by 41 mm in Kharkhoda and 36 mm in Gohana. Commuters were stuck in traffic jams due to the waterlogging in the main markets of Sonepat city.

More rain forecast

However, the rainfall was below expectation in Rohtak as the city got only 17.5 mm of rainfall. Other towns fared better with 25 mm of rainfall reported in Kalanaur followed by 23 mm in Meham, 22 mm in Sampla and 20 mm in Karnal, bringing the temperature to a comfortable 25 degrees Celsius.

Sources in the state power department said that the dip in temperature has reduced the electricity consumption and there has been no load-shedding on Saturday.Mild rainfall was also reported from Bhiwani, Jhajjar and Jind districts, giving a boost to paddy transplantation.

According to the Met department, more rain is expected in the region over the next two days.